Esperanza Rising

Ryan, Pam Munoz (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Esperanza Ortega is growing up in Mexico in the 1920's on a vineyard her family owns. She is used to living a nice lifestyle, being wealthy and having elaborate functions & parties. This all comes crashing down when her father is murdered by bandits and their home is taken away by the bank. Faced with no other choice, Esperanza's mother decides that they will move to the United States to work in California's agricultural industry with the former foreman of the farm (Alfonzo) and his family. It is a very hard adjustment for Esperanza who must now embark on a new way of life and live as a worker. They easily find work because of they are Mexican workers and get paid less money. It is very hard work that they are not used to. Some time later, Esperanza becomes very ill and is no longer able to work. Esperanza decides to work extra hard to earn money to bring her Grandma from Mexico to care for her mother. The climax in the story comes when a new friend, Miguel, steals all of Esperanza's savings and leaves. Deeply saddened because she cannot help her mother, Esperanza becomes depressed and realizes there is more to life than being rich. A surprise to the reader (unexpected insight) is that Miguel took the money to bring Abuela to the US as a surprise to Esperanza.

Pam Munoz Ryan does a great job using language to show the cultural differences Esperanza faces moving from Mexico to the United States.